Abstract

We describe the design and measured performance of the largest (470 cm²) wide angular field tunable Lyot optical filter system ever built. It can be calibrated to pass any wavelength of visible light. It is presently calibrated for non-mechanical wavelength tuning to 457 nm, 473 nm and 486.1 nm using liquid crystal variable retarders as the tuning element. The band pass center wavelength can be tuned ±0.2 nm from these center wavelengths in 0.01 nm steps. The band pass full width at half maximum is 0.232 nm at 457 nm and is proportional to the wavelength. The large aperture and wide angular field of view make this system useful for receiving laser communications through a scattering medium in the presence of sunlight.

© 2011 Optical Society of America